Cattle Market Pulse

Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) Market Report

Lexington, Kentucky · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 12, 2025

1,062 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Blue Grass Stockyards (Monday) report →

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $340.55/cwt +13.74 vs last sale · ≈ $2,098/hd at 616 lb · 133 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $349.22/cwt +6.63 vs last sale · ≈ $1,837/hd at 526 lb · 56 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $339.80/cwt +12.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,939/hd at 571 lb · 45 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,062 1,006 671
Feeder cattle 908 920 558
Slaughter cattle 140 77 105
Replacement cattle 14 9 8

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last Monday feeder steers sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand for weaned packages. Feeder heifers over 475 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 higher with very good demand for weaned packages; light weights steady. Very good demand for yearling heifers in a limited comparison. Yearling steers lite test. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 higher with very good demand; lean cows noticeably higher with very good demand. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00 to 7.00 higher with very good demand.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–345 value added 326 5 430.00–455.00 $447.82 $1,460 —
396–398 value added 397 7 444.00–445.00 $444.43 $1,764 —
407–433 value added 417 12 423.00–440.00 $431.56 $1,800 +7.06
450–480 463 9 397.50–412.50 $406.94 $1,884 +11.92
460–494 value added 488 13 415.00–422.50 $419.59 $2,048 +8.53
511–522 value added 513 24 406.00–425.00 $416.94 $2,139 +22.68
510–542 537 6 381.00–385.00 $381.63 $2,049 +8.43
550–584 value added 567 23 380.00–393.00 $388.13 $2,201 +9.55
550–577 571 5 372.00–380.00 $376.77 $2,151 +15.64
608–630 611 7 330.00–336.00 $335.12 $2,048 —
605–643 value added 616 25 352.00–378.00 $369.21 $2,274 +12.61
650–673 value added 664 21 336.00–367.50 $358.75 $2,382 +38.75
655–685 666 5 317.00–335.00 $327.20 $2,179 —
710–740 730 3 294.00–297.50 $295.13 $2,154 +11.46
710–745 value added 732 14 303.00–321.00 $316.32 $2,315 +13.01
750–790 774 5 283.00–288.00 $284.94 $2,205 +3.73
770–785 value added 776 5 300.00–301.00 $300.40 $2,331 —
800–805 801 4 285.00 $285.00 $2,283 +2.00
855–893 884 4 259.00–264.00 $262.79 $2,323 —
1025 1025 1 249.00 $249.00 $2,552 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–390 386 6 352.50–382.50 $377.77 $1,458 —
505–545 525 2 351.00–360.00 $355.33 $1,865 —
575–590 579 4 361.00–367.50 $365.25 $2,115 +30.25
675 675 1 282.00 $282.00 $1,904 —
710 710 1 281.00 $281.00 $1,995 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,898 —
570 570 2 361.00 $361.00 $2,058 —
985 985 1 222.00 $222.00 $2,187 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1255 1168 2 199.00–241.00 $218.43 $2,551 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 2 377.50–390.00 $383.75 $883 —
260–265 263 2 380.00–390.00 $384.95 $1,012 -22.55
265–292 value added 279 4 407.50–422.50 $414.64 $1,157 —
325 325 1 380.00 $380.00 $1,235 -5.00
321–345 value added 330 8 390.00–423.00 $406.34 $1,341 -18.36
355–395 378 9 350.00–383.00 $366.24 $1,384 -20.63
365–395 value added 391 14 395.00–420.00 $401.18 $1,569 -1.27
400–447 432 16 355.00–379.00 $367.38 $1,587 -4.55
405–448 value added 438 17 380.00–420.00 $383.00 $1,678 -10.16
450–467 value added 459 19 372.50–389.00 $382.18 $1,754 +10.49
450–495 476 20 360.00–371.00 $362.95 $1,728 +7.60
500–545 value added 526 56 330.00–362.50 $349.22 $1,837 +5.77
550–576 564 7 302.50–315.00 $308.71 $1,741 +7.16
550–590 value added 572 38 327.00–367.50 $345.53 $1,976 +12.34
600–645 value added 611 41 300.00–342.00 $334.37 $2,043 +5.04
618 fancy 618 88 346.10 $346.10 $2,139 —
605–640 629 4 272.00–291.00 $281.85 $1,773 -13.34
650–665 657 3 279.00–289.00 $282.64 $1,857 +1.94
650–695 value added 664 16 290.00–333.00 $310.84 $2,064 +12.15
700–730 713 6 265.00–282.50 $272.32 $1,942 +15.31
750 750 1 259.00 $259.00 $1,942 —
786 value added 786 3 285.00 $285.00 $2,240 —
844 844 6 240.00 $240.00 $2,026 -23.00
945 945 1 252.00 $252.00 $2,381 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–285 275 3 310.00–357.50 $337.06 $927 —
300–340 324 6 300.00–367.50 $338.30 $1,096 +28.30
410–446 438 6 333.00–352.50 $345.69 $1,514 —
440 value added 440 1 337.50 $337.50 $1,485 —
465–480 value added 470 3 337.50–359.00 $344.82 $1,621 —
450–495 472 11 321.00–355.00 $342.16 $1,615 +26.90
520–535 528 2 310.00–317.50 $313.80 $1,657 —
570–590 580 5 290.00–302.50 $296.78 $1,721 —
600–605 603 2 230.00–269.00 $249.42 $1,504 —
690 690 2 230.00–255.00 $242.50 $1,673 -22.50
715–725 720 2 229.00–257.50 $243.35 $1,752 —
750 750 1 241.00 $241.00 $1,808 +22.25
825–835 830 2 221.00–231.00 $225.97 $1,876 —
970 970 1 220.00 $220.00 $2,134 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050–1490 1193 4 180.00–192.00 $187.81 $2,241 —
1385 1385 1 169.00 $169.00 $2,341 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 1 292.50 $292.50 $1,389 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
292 fancy 292 2 433.00 $433.00 $1,264 —
300–330 315 2 405.00–417.50 $410.95 $1,294 +4.70
330 value added 330 1 422.50 $422.50 $1,394 —
350–385 value added 361 4 430.00–442.50 $436.68 $1,576 —
355–390 375 11 395.00–422.50 $410.86 $1,541 +14.44
400–440 417 8 375.00–412.50 $389.88 $1,626 -26.40
415–439 value added 430 15 417.50–426.00 $421.66 $1,813 —
450–480 463 10 380.00–399.00 $390.44 $1,808 +5.49
455–490 value added 478 7 399.00–409.00 $403.38 $1,928 —
502–537 value added 519 16 376.00–397.50 $383.96 $1,993 -2.45
510–530 525 6 369.00–375.00 $372.36 $1,955 +11.22
550–580 565 10 369.00–382.50 $373.51 $2,110 +32.20
612 612 2 333.00 $333.00 $2,038 +36.70
602–645 value added 619 16 313.00–354.00 $331.82 $2,054 +2.84
640 640 2 319.00 $319.00 $2,042 +22.70
655–695 value added 668 9 313.00–331.00 $322.71 $2,156 +2.04
655–687 680 7 312.00–327.50 $323.36 $2,199 +14.69
700–742 value added 722 12 291.00–317.00 $300.27 $2,168 +10.46
720–725 723 3 280.00–301.00 $292.36 $2,114 +29.36
755 755 1 262.00 $262.00 $1,978 -15.40
810–845 828 3 209.00–242.00 $223.93 $1,854 +0.93
870–885 878 2 229.00–243.00 $236.06 $2,073 +19.06
950–975 963 2 235.00–237.50 $236.27 $2,275 +54.27
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270–295 283 2 350.00–375.00 $361.95 $1,024 +29.45
365–390 382 5 360.00–397.00 $373.34 $1,426 —
415–445 421 5 365.00–375.00 $369.93 $1,557 —
460–495 477 12 339.00–375.00 $363.47 $1,734 +6.01
541–545 542 7 332.50–367.50 $361.83 $1,961 +73.00
550–595 567 15 321.00–359.00 $338.69 $1,920 +36.69
640 640 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,952 —
790–795 791 10 219.00–247.50 $241.77 $1,912 —
810 810 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,498 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 1 317.50 $317.50 $1,619 +104.94
575–590 583 2 317.50–319.00 $318.26 $1,855 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,969 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1230 1139 80-85% 4 137.00–143.00 $140.67 $1,602 —
1055–1530 1190 80-85% 5 143.00–153.00 $149.44 $1,778 —
1040–1560 1266 80-85% 35 155.00–177.00 $166.21 $2,104 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290 1290 75-80% 1 144.00 $144.00 $1,858 —
1155–1595 1383 75-80% 11 145.00–153.00 $149.21 $2,064 +8.13
1115–1820 1438 75-80% 28 154.00–173.00 $162.36 $2,335 +2.30
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
825–1200 965 85-90% 4 120.00–127.00 $124.09 $1,197 —
850–1080 972 85-90% 9 129.00–137.00 $134.00 $1,302 —
885–1230 1043 85-90% 17 140.00–163.00 $152.82 $1,594 +28.10

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1345–1465 1405 2 166.00–174.00 $169.83 $2,386 —
1275–2105 1645 10 192.00–228.00 $205.31 $3,377 +39.69

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
805–1190 969 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 12 156.00–187.50 $166.22 $1,611
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
835–1070 953 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 143.00–151.00 $147.49 $1,406

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1130–1585 1358 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,525.00–2,600.00 $2,556.22

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1715 1715 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00 —
1752 1752 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 3,900.00 $3,900.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050 1050 85-90% 1 138.00 $138.00 $1,449 —
1260 1260 80-85% 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,764 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 185.00 $185.00 $749 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.